Prince William County Animal Shelter

Featured Pets

The "Featured Pets" listing is updated on a weekly basis so please check back regularly for new additions and adoption success stories! This listing represents only a small group of our animals housed at the Prince William County Animal Shelter. Please visit the shelter in person to be sure you meet every one of the animals available for adoptable. The Prince William County Animal Shelter tracks our animals by reference numbers (example: SAR #123). Please provide this reference number (note: listed as the I.D. on Petfinder) when inquiring about a particular animal. Click here to see our Adoption Success Stories!

Save a Life - Adopt An Adult Cat

Are you considering adopting a cat or kitten? Depending on your age and lifestyle, you may be better off adopting an adult cat rather than a kitten. If you are elderly, work long hours, or have young children, an adult cat may be the best match for your home. If you plan to leave a kitten home alone while you're working, the kitten may become lonely and destructive. An adult cat is usually much calmer and less likely to get into trouble than a kitten. If you lead a very busy lifestyle, consider adopting two cats to keep each other company. Young children move quickly and like to hug pets. As a result, children may accidentally hurt a small kitten or cause a kitten to bite or scratch if it's scared. An adult cat, on the other hand, is more likely to tolerate children and less likely to be injured. Senior citizens are often unprepared for a kitten's energy level and most experts recommend a calm adult or older cat for an elderly household.

Because an adult cat is fully grown, you will know what you're getting in terms of personality and appearance. You can tell whether or not a cat is the type to sit on your lap, for example. What most people don't realize is that caring for a kitten is a lot like caring for a baby. Young kittens need constant supervision. You have to safeguard their health -- electrical cords, knickknacks, household cleaners, drawers, window screens, and other pets can place a kitten's safety at risk. Kittens also have endless energy and you can expect a kitten to spend its nights scaling your drapes and running up and down your stairs and across your countertops. Rarely will a young kitten sleep at the foot of your bed.

What's the best part about adopting an adult cat? You are literally saving a life! Sadly, a cat's chances for adoption decrease with age and the majority of adult cats at shelters are euthanized because most people want to adopt kittens. An adult cat makes a wonderful pet if someone would give them a chance! Check out the purr-fect adult cats available for adoption at the Prince William County Animal Shelter!

Who We Are

The Prince William County Police Department's Animal Control Bureau is responsible for the Animal Shelter. In addition, the Animal Control Bureau enforces animal welfare laws, conducts animal education seminars, houses stray and unwanted animals in a clean and safe environment and coordinates the adoption of animals. The Animal Control Bureau also investigates complaints of cruelty to animals, provides 24-hour emergency service for injured or stray animals and removes stray dogs and livestock from streets and public areas. The Prince William County Animal Shelter is operated in accordance with state and local law.

The Prince William County Animal Shelter works very hard to find homes for the animals under its care as quickly as possible. Animals are brought into the shelter at an alarming rate and a sudden influx of animals may fill the shelter beyond capacity. All stray animals taken into the Prince William County Animal Shelter have a minimum 5-day period of grace, after which Virginia State law dictates the animal may be euthanized as a means of disposition (those with collars or some sort of identification receive a 10 day waiting period). Surrendered animals (those animals signed over to the shelter by an owner) are evaluated immediately for adoption. If the animal does not pass the behavioral evaluation or has major health issues it could be euthanized. Sadly, not all animals brought to the shelter find homes. Please adopt from the shelter -- it saves lives!

Friends of the Shelter

The Prince William SPCA is assisting the Prince William County Animal Shelter to place adoptable shelter animals on Petfinder. The PWSPCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to benefit the animals of the greater Prince William County, Virginia, area. This all-volunteer organization is dedicated to protecting domestic animals from cruelty, neglect, and abandonment, and stopping the unnecessary overpopulation of companion animals. PWSPCA's goal is to end the euthanasia of adoptable cats and dogs in Prince William County by promoting and supporting programs involving mutually beneficial relations between people and companion animals. In working with the Prince William County Animal Shelter to place adoptable shelter animals on Petfinder, the PWSPCA hopes to make the greater Prince William region a better place for precious companion animals. For additional information on the PWSPCA, including volunteer opportunities, visit the PWSPCA website at www.pwspca.org.

Adoption Policies

Potential Adopters:
If an animal has not been spayed or neutered, adopters must live in Prince William County, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park, Fairfax County, Loudon County, Fauquier County, or Stafford County. If the animal is already spayed or neutered, adopters may live outside of the above mentioned areas.

Adoption Fees:

Dog Adoption Fee: $45 (includes initial distemper combo vaccine, intranasal bordatella, rabies and microchip). However, if the dog is not already spayed or neutered it will be delivered directly to a contracted veterinarian and the procedure will be completed prior to the dog being taken home. The cost for a spay or neuter of a dog is $140 payable directly to the veterinarian at the time of pick up. If, for some reason, the dog is not able to have immediate surgery, arrangements will be made between the new owner and the Shelter to have the dog returned on a particular date to have the procedure completed. Cat Adoption Fee: $45 (includes initial distemper combo vaccine, rabies and microchip). However, if the cat is not already spayed or neutered it will be delivered directly to a contracted veterinarian and the procedure will be completed prior to it being taken home. The cost for a spay or neuter of a cat is $100 payable directly to the veterinarian at the time of pick up. If, for some reason, the cat is not able to have immediate surgery, arrangements will be made between the new owner and the Shelter to have the cat returned on a particular date to have the procedure completed.

Visit the Prince William County Animal Shelter

The Prince William County Animal Shelter is located aross from the Prince William County Landfill on Dumfries Road (Rt. 234).

Please note: All adoptions are stopped a half-hour prior to our closing times.

Contact the Prince William County Animal Shelter

Contact the Prince William County Animal Shelter via the information listed below. Please note email inquiries are replied to within 48-hours. For an immediate response to your inquiry, please visit the Prince William County Animal Shelter in person or call the shelter at the number provided below. Unfortunately, the Prince William County Animal Shelter is unable to place a "hold" on animals, and adoptions are processed on a first come, first serviced basis.